Kory Katseanes
Encyclopedia
Kory Katseanes is the director of the School of Music at Brigham Young University
(BYU) as well as its orchestra program, one of the largest collegiate orchestra programs in the United States. He has also been a guest conductor for multiple orchestras.
Katseanes grew up in Blackfoot, Idaho
. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and served a mission
from about age 19-21. He is of Greek descent and became involved in music after serving as a missionary.
Katseanes first studied music at Ricks College and continued on to the University of Utah
where he received a bachelors degree in music. He later received a masters of music degree also from the University of Utah.
Katseanes was a violinist with the Utah Symphony Orchestra
and later its assistant conductor from 1987-2002. While in this position Katseanes was connected with the developments that included a barbershop quartet with the Symphony's Independence Day concert. Katseanes was also the founder and music director of The Utah Virtuosi.
For years Katseanes lived in the Avenues area of Salt Lake City with his wife, Carolyn and their four children. They have since moved closer to BYU.
Katseanes conducts the philharmonic and chamber orchestras at BYU and oversees the operations of the other three orchestras at the university, approximately 450 students all together. Katseanes is also the director of BYU's graduate orchestra conducting program. The Chamber Orchestra has traveled to such countries as Greece, the United Kingdom and Russia while directed by Katseanes, and is one of the most widely traveled university orchestras in the United States.
Under Katseanes direction the BYU Philharmonic orchestra has also been nominated to receive a Pearl Award.
Katseanes has been a guest clinician for a conducting program at the University of Montana. Katseanes is also an occasional guest conductor of the Utah Symphony Orchestra. He has also been a guest conductor for the Orchestra of Southern Utah.
Katseanes conducted the BYU orchestra for the premier production of Glen Nelson and Murray Boren
's The Book of Gold. Nelson is a BYU and NYU graduate who works as a ghost writer in New York City.
Katseanes was one of the original members of the College Orchestra Directors Association when it was formed in 2003. In early 2008 their national meeting was held at BYU. During the meeting Katseanes directed the BYU Philharmonic orchestra in the premier performance of Libby Larsen
's "Bach 358".
Among those who have studied under Katseanes is Gary Caldwell, the director of bands at Dixie State College in St. George, Utah
.
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
(BYU) as well as its orchestra program, one of the largest collegiate orchestra programs in the United States. He has also been a guest conductor for multiple orchestras.
Katseanes grew up in Blackfoot, Idaho
Blackfoot, Idaho
Blackfoot is a city in Bingham County, Idaho, United States. The population was 10,419 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Bingham County. Blackfoot is self-designated the "Potato Capital of the World", because it claims to have the largest potato industry in the world...
. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and served a mission
Missionary (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
from about age 19-21. He is of Greek descent and became involved in music after serving as a missionary.
Katseanes first studied music at Ricks College and continued on to the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
where he received a bachelors degree in music. He later received a masters of music degree also from the University of Utah.
Katseanes was a violinist with the Utah Symphony Orchestra
Utah Symphony Orchestra
-History:The first attempt to create a symphony group in the Utah area occurred in 1892, before Utah was a state. The Salt Lake Symphony was created and presented just one concert before disbanding. In 1902 the Salt Lake Symphony Orchestra was formed, and it remained in existence until 1911...
and later its assistant conductor from 1987-2002. While in this position Katseanes was connected with the developments that included a barbershop quartet with the Symphony's Independence Day concert. Katseanes was also the founder and music director of The Utah Virtuosi.
For years Katseanes lived in the Avenues area of Salt Lake City with his wife, Carolyn and their four children. They have since moved closer to BYU.
Katseanes conducts the philharmonic and chamber orchestras at BYU and oversees the operations of the other three orchestras at the university, approximately 450 students all together. Katseanes is also the director of BYU's graduate orchestra conducting program. The Chamber Orchestra has traveled to such countries as Greece, the United Kingdom and Russia while directed by Katseanes, and is one of the most widely traveled university orchestras in the United States.
Under Katseanes direction the BYU Philharmonic orchestra has also been nominated to receive a Pearl Award.
Katseanes has been a guest clinician for a conducting program at the University of Montana. Katseanes is also an occasional guest conductor of the Utah Symphony Orchestra. He has also been a guest conductor for the Orchestra of Southern Utah.
Katseanes conducted the BYU orchestra for the premier production of Glen Nelson and Murray Boren
Murray Boren
Murray Boren is a prolific composer of opera, symphonic, chamber, and vocal works. In 2007, he retired from his position as composer-in-residence at the College of Music of the College of Fine Arts and Communications of Brigham Young University .Boren has both a B.M. and an M.M. degree from BYU...
's The Book of Gold. Nelson is a BYU and NYU graduate who works as a ghost writer in New York City.
Katseanes was one of the original members of the College Orchestra Directors Association when it was formed in 2003. In early 2008 their national meeting was held at BYU. During the meeting Katseanes directed the BYU Philharmonic orchestra in the premier performance of Libby Larsen
Libby Larsen
Libby Larsen is one of America’s most performed living composers. She has created a catalogue of over 400 works spanning virtually every genre from intimate vocal and chamber music to massive orchestral works and over fifteen operas...
's "Bach 358".
Among those who have studied under Katseanes is Gary Caldwell, the director of bands at Dixie State College in St. George, Utah
St. George, Utah
St. George is a city located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Utah, and the county seat of Washington County, Utah. It is the principal city of and is included in the St. George, Utah, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is 119 miles northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, and 303 miles ...
.